Jenő Nagy

Linear transport infrastructures are widely recognised as corridors for plant dispersal; however, their role in modifying local abiotic conditions remains less explored. In this study, we examined whether slope‐driven, unidirectional precipitation runoff from paved roads is associated with differences in roadside soil‐moisture and local abundance of Cochlearia danica , an Atlantic halophytic species currently spreading into continental Europe. Targeted roadside surveys were conducted in Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania, complemented by comparative soil‐moisture assessments on opposing sides of sloping road sections. Downslope verges receiving concentrated runoff consistently showed higher gravimetric soil‐moisture and were associated with larger C. danica populations than upslope verges. Population size showed a positive association with local variation in soil‐moisture. Supplementary species distribution modelling based on bioclimatic variables predicted low macroclimatic suitability for the study region, indicating that several recorded roadside populations occur under marginal conditions. In addition to Hungary, C. danica was documented for the first time in Serbia and Romania, with evidence suggesting local establishment of revisited sites. Our results suggest that paved road design may create small‐scale ecohydrological asymmetry along road verges, potentially contributing to the establishment of Atlantic halophytes in continental roadside habitats.

The tubers of terrestrial orchids have been used for nutritional, medicinal, and aphrodisiac purposes across Europe and Western Asia for centuries. Historical sources from Hungary and Transylvania indicate that tuberous orchids, collectively known as bergőburján in the Gyimes region of the Eastern Carpathians, were believed to possess aphrodisiac properties and were used in both human and veterinary medicine. This exploratory study documents contemporary knowledge, nomenclature, beliefs, and uses associated with tuberous orchids among Hungarian-speaking communities in the Eastern Carpathians of Romania. A total of 104 semi-structured interviews were conducted in seven settlements of the Csík and Gyimes regions in 2023. Knowledge of bergőburján was much more frequently recorded in Gyimes (54/85 respondents; 63.5%) than in the sampled Csík settlements (1/19 respondents; 5.3%). Statistical analyses revealed that informants from Gyimes recognised and named significantly more orchid species, while older respondents demonstrated substantially greater orchid-related knowledge than younger individuals. Farmers also recognised more orchid species than manual workers. More than one-third of respondents familiar with bergőburján associated it with aphrodisiac effects, and over half reported its former use as a stimulant for humans and livestock. Although the use of bergőburján largely ceased decades ago, a distinctive body of traditional knowledge persists. Our results indicate that bergőburján-related knowledge has persisted among older community members despite the disappearance of its practical use. However, generational differences suggest that the intergenerational transmission of this traditional ecological knowledge is weakening.

Ranunculus ophioglossifolius is an amphibious plant species with a disjunct Atlantic–Mediterranean distribution, recorded for the first time in Hungary. Two populations were identified in the south-eastern part of the Pannonian Basin, extending the known range of the species northward. Field surveys, morphometric analyses and phytosociological sampling were conducted to assess its ecology, phenotypic variability and differentiation from three morphologically similar Ranunculus species. Linear discriminant analysis based on selected morphological traits provided high classification accuracy among the studied taxa. New functional trait data are presented, including seed mass and vegetative parameters, which are smaller in the Hungarian populations than the reported European values. These differences are consistent with environmentally induced phenotypic variability. Phytosociological data indicate that the species occurs in Pannonian wet saline meadow mosaics on solonetz soil, primarily within temporarily inundated microhabitats associated with Agrostio stoloniferae–Alopecuretum pratensis, Caricetum melanostachyae, and Bolboschoenetum maritimi communities. The occurrence of R. ophioglossifolius in the Pannonian Basin, together with comparable regional records, suggests that the species may represent either a previously overlooked or a recently established element of the Hungarian flora. These findings contribute to the understanding of species distributions and highlight the relevance of integrated taxonomic and ecological approaches in documenting range dynamics.

Due to the expansion of road networks and the use of de‐icing salt, numerous salt‐tolerant plant species spread along roadsides worldwide. One of the most striking examples is a coastal halophyte, Plantago coronopus , which has been dispersing along road networks in Europe. Our aim was to investigate the role of seed dimorphism, seed traits of the two seed types (morphology, germination rate, wind dispersal ability), and salt tolerance in the successful roadside spread of P. coronopus . We compared the seed traits, salt tolerance, and the distribution along roadsides in Hungary of P. coronopus to four species of the Plantago genus native to Central Europe. We found that the native P. lanceolata was the most widespread along roadsides in Hungary, while P. coronopus was the third. Interestingly, P. coronopus was found almost exclusively along motorways. P. coronopus had almost twice as many large seeds as small seeds. Small seeds of this species had the lowest terminal velocity compared to the other species, which may contribute to the successful dispersal by wind and air currents caused by cars. Seeds of all the species germinated at 0.4% salt concentration, but with a reduced rate (except P. major ). Specimens from small seeds had higher shoot weight than those from large seeds and proved to have a higher reproductive potential even in salted soil. Our results show that seed dimorphism, through different dispersal capacity and germination success of the two seed types, as well as through different reproductive potential and salt tolerance of specimens developed from the two seed types, may contribute to the current rapid spread of P. coronopus along motorways in Hungary and Europe, and to its persistence under disturbed, spatially and temporally heterogeneous conditions.

Tree-covered urban green spaces, including streets, parks, and other public areas, are vital for urban sustainability and people’s well-being. However, such trees face threats from the occurrence of extreme weather. In this study, we investigated wind damage to urban trees in the city of Debrecen, Hungary, during two severe windstorms in July 2025. Field surveys were conducted across three distinct urban zones, covering approximately 515,000 m² in total. We assessed 201 damaged and 325 undamaged trees and recorded the species, size, damage type, and contextual landscape features associated with them being damaged or not. Damage type to trees consisted primarily of broken branches, whilst uprooting and trunk breakage were recorded less often. Most tree characteristics (trunk circumference, height, systematic position, nativity) and the proximity and height of buildings upwind of focal trees were significant predictors of their vulnerability to windstorms. In addition, we surveyed 150 residents in person and received comments from 54 people via online questionnaires and explored their perceptions of storm frequency, the causes of storms, and mitigation measures. Most respondents noted increased storm frequency and attributed that to climate change, and they suggested mitigation measures focused on urban tree management and environmental protection. Some people expressed scepticism about the presence of climate change and/or their ability to address such damage on an individual basis. Our study is the first to integrate assessments of storm-related impacts on urban trees with the opinions of residents living in proximity to them. Our findings highlight the need for climate-adaptive and mechanically robust urban forestry planning and offer insights that guide the management of trees in urban areas globally. Specifically, we propose to undertake the following: (1) Prioritise structurally resilient, stress-tolerant tree species adapted to extreme weather conditions when planting new trees. (2) Integrate wind dynamics, microclimatic effects and artificial stabilisation techniques into urban design processes to optimise tree placement and their long-term stability. Urban planners, builders, developers, and homeowners should be informed about these stabilising practices and incorporate the needs of trees early in the design process, rather than as decorative additions. (3) Develop regionally calibrated risk models and early-warning systems to support proactive and data-driven tree management and public safety. (4) Promote climate literacy and public participation to strengthen collective stewardship and resilience of urban trees.

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) represents a significant pollutant in wetland ecosystems globally. While the impacts of ALDFG are increasingly recognised as exacting a substantial toll on the world's oceans, reliable data on freshwater ecosystems remain scarce. We explored the scale and causes of fishing gear loss in freshwater locations by engaging recreational anglers through an online questionnaire in Hungary. Respondents provided self‐reported estimates of lost fishing gear over their angling careers and shared perceptions of the circumstances leading to these losses. From the total of 416 responses, 332 respondents provided data that we were able to analyse in detail. Results indicated that anglers who fished regularly reported greater fishing gear loss than older anglers and those that fished predominantly in faster‐flowing waters. Using the self‐reported numbers, we estimated that at least 126.0–196.2 million fishing gear items have accumulated in Hungary's freshwater over the past 18 years. Annual lost fishing gear items therefore must weigh 1800–2900 tons, equivalent to ~40,500 tons (40.5 million kg) over this study period. Practical implication : If current trends persist and based upon time‐series modelling, fishing gear loss could amount to 301.0–468.7 million items in the next 25 years. Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as public awareness campaigns and gear recovery programmes, to mitigate this growing problem in environmental pollution.

Global databases of plant functional traits are facing issues in data heterogeneity and taxonomical or geographical representativeness. To fill data gaps, natural history collections, such as herbaria, have become widely accepted as a potential source of data on functional traits. Surprisingly, root characteristics of plants still have not been studied on herbarium materials. We investigated whether rooting depth data from herbarium samples are realistic enough to be used in ecological studies. We measured original maximum rooting depth records on herbarium specimens and individuals from the field. Global data from the TRY database were also obtained. We tested the pairwise correlations between data from the three datasets. The effect of life form, taxonomic position, and average species height on rooting depth was also evaluated. Herbarium data showed strong correlation to field records, while records from the TRY database showed a weaker correlation with data measured on herbarium materials. Life form, taxonomic position, and height proved to be good predictors of rooting depth collected from the field or the herbarium; however, the model including data obtained from the TRY as the response variable performed weaker. We constructed an equation for predicting realistic average maximum rooting depth values of a given species based on herbarium data. Strong correlation among the field and herbarium datasets suggests that museal collections can be considered as resources of root trait data. Although herbarium‐based rooting depth measurements usually represent lower values than field records, the correction of the herbarium‐derived dataset is solvable. These corrected data might be more accurate than using large, global trait databases. Herbarium work might be a more sustainable, time‐ and cost‐effective practice than field sampling. The inclusion of herbarium‐derived information in trait‐based studies, as well as in global databases, can improve these sources spatially, temporally, and taxonomically.

The value of recreational anglers' ecological knowledge and perceptions have come to prominence in the past few decades. Based on recent studies, their observations might include those of alien organisms and, therefore, might be particularly important in monitoring and revealing the causes of aquatic invasions. Although the number of registered anglers in Hungary has doubled in less than 5 years, exceeding 1 million by May 2024, little is known about their ecological knowledge. To learn more about anglers' knowledge and perceptions of alien plant species, 72 field interviews were conducted between December 2021 and May 2023 at four regularly fished freshwater bodies in Hungary: Hévíz Canal and Lakes Fényes, Balaton and Velence. During interviews, photographs of 12 alien plant species, occurring mostly at thermal water habitats, were shown to anglers as their observations on the effects of biological plant invasions were recorded. Overall, most anglers were unable to name all of the presented species, but at least half of the respondents could confidently identify four species, whereas those regularly fishing at thermal water habitats were able to identify correctly more of the invasive plants. Sixteen of the 72 interviewed anglers were engaged in aquaristics, two of whom confessed that a plant species (i.e., water lettuce [ Pistia stratiotes ]) and a fish species (i.e., goldfish [ Carassius auratus ]) previously held in aquaria had been intentionally released into the wild by them. Our research underlines the importance of anglers' observations about alien organisms, but anglers also have the potential to promote aquatic invasions, especially if they are aquarists too. Anglers might also facilitate early detection of plant invasives before biological invasions occur. We suggest that anglers are an untapped resource in defining and implementing conservation strategies that could counter the spread and establishment of aquatic plant invasives.

Marketing interviews are widely used to acquire information on the behaviour, satisfaction, and/or needs of customers. Although online surveys are broadly available, one of the major challenges is to collect high-quality data, which is fundamental for marketing. Since online surveys are mostly unsupervised, the possibility of providing false answers is high, and large numbers of participants do not finish interviews, yet our understanding of the reasons behind this pattern remains unclear. Here, we examined the possible factors influencing response rates and aimed to investigate the impact of technical and demographic information on the probability of interview completion rates of multiple surveys. We applied survival analysis and proportional hazards models to statistically evaluate the associations between the probability of survey completion and the technical and demographic information of the respondents. More complex surveys had lower completion probabilities, although survey completion was increased when respondents used desktop computers and not mobile devices, and when surveys were translated to their native language. Meanwhile, age and gender did not influence completion rates, but the pool of respondents invited to complete the survey did affect completion rates. These findings can be used to improve online surveys to achieve higher completion rates and collect more accurate data.